He said it with such a serious face that I put it on, but the design was unsettling.
I was worried about the size, but it adjusted itself to fit my wrist.
"Huh?"
Strangely, my body felt invigorated. A feeling of elation stronger than caffeine began to envelop my body.
It wasn't just a feeling, it was real - when I jumped in place for a moment, I almost hit my head on the ceiling.
"Instructor Jang? My body suddenly feels too light?"
Ducheol pondered for a moment after hearing this, then spoke.
"This bracelet reduces the power of always-active skills by up to 95%."
"But seeing that your physical abilities have increased instead, it seems your main skill was affecting you too."
So I've been using Coercion on myself all this time?
This was the frightening aspect of always-active types.
Without any precursors to the ability's activation, you don't know when it activated, so if you're not skilled, it only brings the worst results.
'Was it because it wasn't just 'desired target'?'
The skill description clearly stated 'desired target'.
It meant you could only set the target arbitrarily, but the ability was always in an active state.
"You can adjust the skill output by looking at the bracelet, but since you're still not proficient in using skills, don't touch it."
There were other functions too, like being tracked if you remove it carelessly, and hunters coming to find you.
'It looks like a condom but has a lot of functions'
I was increasingly realizing how different this place was from where I used to live.
Status window, quests, skills, and now even items that could be called such.
I really have come into a novel.
Will I be able to go back?
"I've given you everything, now go to your classroom."
I shook off my thoughts at Ducheol's words.
'I'll definitely go back.'
There's no disagreement on that.
+++++++++
---------------------------------=
[Name] Jang Ducheol
[Physical] Height: 195cm / Weight: 132kg
[Description] Victory Academy's strongest instructor, giant, iron man - there are many words to describe him.
With an iron-like will and firm beliefs, his righteous words and actions embody the ideal hunter.
He has a one-sided love for Instructor Ryu Hyemi. (Duration: 2 years)
Other information unavailable
---------------------------------=
'Even this kind of thing comes up'
The range of basic information was strange.
While following Ducheol, I tried activating the newly acquired skill to check, but it felt like I was peeking into a bachelor's romance.
As we retraced our steps, taking some time, Ducheol told me various things.
First, there were six always-active ability users in Victory Academy, including me.
Although they were in different grades, they gathered once a month to check skill proficiency.
Apart from that, they followed the same curriculum as other cadets.
I liked how simple it was.
"By the way, our class is ranked first among the first-year classes."
Even looking at the overall rankings, we don't fall behind in the competition, he said, his face overflowing with pride.
'But why the sudden boasting...'
I understood the nuance of 'I hope you can become a cadet suitable for such a class', but well.
I never studied hard even when I was in school, so there's no way I'd study here.
Besides, my purpose for coming here wasn't to study hard or anything...
"It's fortunate that your transfer timing is good."
I agreed with this.
Given that it was April now, and Victory Academy's semester starts in March, there shouldn't be much disruption to classes.
"Here it is."
I see a classroom sign that says [1-A].
Glancing through the window, I heard noisy sounds.
As soon as Ducheol opened the door, the class suddenly became quiet - it seems the quiet mode when the homeroom teacher appears is the same everywhere.
"As I mentioned yesterday, we have a transfer student. Baek Taeyang, come in."
As soon as I stepped into the classroom, all eyes turned to me. I stood in front of the platform, meeting each gaze that converged on me to an uncomfortable degree.
"Then, please introduce yourself briefly"
White hair and tanned-looking skin, a perfect physique evident even in uniform.
An impression that seems like he might steal even non-existent girlfriends!
I decided to live up to my face value.
"I'm Baek Taeyang, nice to meet you."
Even with a simple sentence, the atmosphere changes drastically depending on who says it.
If a neatly dressed man with tidy hair had said it, it might have given a decent impression.
But if you come straight from having sex in the disciplinary room as soon as you arrive at school, exuding a strong male scent?
'Going strong from the first impression.'
I decided to keep pushing the delinquent image from now on.
When told to take a seat, I very naturally went to sit at the back.
'Maintaining too many friendships is troublesome anyway.'
The window seat at the very back, the seat of the strong!
In reality, there weren't many students. I recalled what Ducheol had told me earlier.
Classes are divided according to the potential of abilities and the cadets' capabilities for each grade.
But saying it's the top class in the grade meant the cut-off line was that high.
Usually, if a class lacks students, they'd pull up from below, but Victory Academy was strictly based on ability.
As soon as Ducheol left after a brief homeroom, another instructor came in.
They seemed to be in charge of theoretical lessons, as they started writing on the board.
[The grade of Main Skills is always displayed as ???. This is thought to mean not limiting human potential.]
[The academic world says that no matter how trivial an ability may seem, as long as it's a Main Skill, its potential is unknown.]
"Therefore, all cadets should focus on improving their abilities..."
My vision gradually blurs. I shouldn't be like this from the first class on the first day, but my eyelids are too heavy.
The chalk tapping on the blackboard is sweet ASMR, and the boring theoretical explanation is a lullaby.
'I should at least try to listen...'
I collapsed right there.
It happened just 3 minutes into the first class on my first day of transfer.
+++
"...yang"
I hear a voice. It's a cute voice. A voice that rolls around a bit with added sugar.
"Taeyang!"
When I lifted my head, the first thing I saw was red hair. It sparkled like a ruby and was as bright as a peony.
The cat-like face was full of mischief, looking like a tomboy. She also seemed easygoing...
"Who..."
Maybe because I'm not fully awake, I can't quite grasp the situation.
As I wake up, I see a pretty girl sitting in front of me, making eye contact.
Next to her stands a boy with an expression that clearly says he's uncomfortable.
"I'm So Yumin, the class president. Nice to meet you!"
"Vice president, Kim Minsu. Nice to meet you."
I suddenly became fully alert. So Yumin? Kim Minsu?
Where have I heard these names before?
'The protagonists of this novel!'
These are the main characters of Academy Pure Love Diary?
At that moment, the quest window popped up.
---------------------------------=
[Main Quest]
So Yumin and Kim Minsu are a fresh couple who have just started dating.
And 'Baek Taeyang' is a character set up to threaten that fresh relationship.
What you need to do is already decided, isn't it!
Clear Condition :: You know, right? (0/1)
Time Limit :: D-30
Reward :: ??? / Penalty :: Death
---------------------------------=
This was the quest that could be considered the reason and purpose for Baek Taeyang's creation, his alpha and omega, his everything.
'I've also gained the biggest piece of information'
The most curious thing since entering the novel was which chapter we were at.
There was no way to know this, but now they've given me this information.
'If they've just started dating, it must be right at the latest chapter point, there shouldn't be much difference.'
In the original work, the latest chapter ended with Minsu confessing to Yumin while holding hands.
"You awakened just the day before yesterday, right? If there's anything you don't know, feel free to ask. I'll help you."
"Thanks, ah then..."
I activated my skill while smiling kindly.
[Eye-licking Gaze activated! As a penalty, your gaze becomes sticky. Be careful not to cause any misunderstandings!]
Minsu seemed to feel that gaze and looked at me with a slight frown, while Yumin just kept smiling broadly.
A dense girl, a boy who's always anxious about it, and a virgin bomber who needs to get between them.
Isn't the outcome already decided?
"...By any chance, could you guide me around the academy after school today?"
"Sure! Then just sit quietly after school today, okay?"
"I, I'll do it. Wouldn't it be more comfortable to go around with another guy?"
Minsu interrupted before Yumin could finish speaking.
He had an anxious expression, and I could feel how much he loved her.
I understand his desire to avoid creating a situation where she's alone with another man.
That's how first love is.
Well, considering they started dating around chapter 172, they must have been in the crush phase for over 100 chapters, so it must be quite tender.
'But what can I do about that?'
It wasn't my problem.
"I think the class president would explain better... sorry."
Yumin didn't notice the look Minsu was giving her at all.
"Then, how about the three of us go together?"
"It's too many people to introduce the school, I'll explain well."
Hearing Yumin's words, Minsu bit his lower lip slightly.
His expression looking at me was full of resentment, which felt unfair.
I haven't done anything yet, why am I being treated like this already?
'Your girlfriend said not to come along...'
I couldn't understand why he was taking out his anger on the wrong person.
'I haven't done anything yet...'
Of course, I plan to do all sorts of things, biting and sucking.
'I should finish the quest by today.'
The method for an inexperienced guy to easily eat another man's woman like cake.
It was time to begin.